Fined for turning left while driving in Cardiff

Just need some advise, few weeks ago I was working in Cardiff and had a call to Wagamama.

I was at the traffic lights with in my works van with WalkAbout on my right hand side. I kept out of he bus lane, and when the bus lane finished I turned left.

I’ve got a £35 fine for turning left (not driving in the bus lane). I been turning left there for years with no problems. Does anyone know if there’s a new no left turn sign?

Once I turned left I drove up the lane to the bollard that’s got to be lowered for me to enter.

Is it worth fighting or just paying up?

You turned left in front of the Prince of Wales to end up there , that is a fine , no point fighting it

The moral of the story being stick to the right, never turn to the left.

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Originally Posted by Rocco Siffredi

You turned left in front of the Prince of Wales to end up there , that is a fine , no point fighting it

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How else would I get there? There’s vans and lorries that require access there for delerveries and call outs.

Just checked on google street view (July 2017) and the no left turn sign is there sorry mate

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Originally Posted by El Gwapo

Just checked on google street view (July 2017) and the no left turn sign is there sorry mate

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Looks like I’ve got to pay it, thanks for checking.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKIzjF25sP8

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Originally Posted by Nick

The moral of the story being stick to the right, never turn to the left.

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Becoming, or turning left , has its consequences .

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Originally Posted by Banc Blue

How else would I get there? There’s vans and lorries that require access there for delerveries and call outs.

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Got to go straight on under the railway bridge, around the roundabout and back up St Mary's Street and then turn right. Seems illogical and a typical load of bullshit road layout from the council again. I guess it's designed to allow the buses free flow from the stops on the left at the end of the Street but I can see how it is confusing with so much visual noise around.

I'd write in and appeal, stating that you couldn't see how else you could access the road. You could also claim a bus obscured your view of the no left turn sign - which it sounds as if it did...

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Originally Posted by El Gwapo

Just checked on google street view (July 2017) and the no left turn sign is there sorry mate

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There is. He was turning into Mill Lane.

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Originally Posted by Banc Blue

Just need some advise, few weeks ago I was working in Cardiff and had a call to Wagamama.

I was at the traffic lights with in my works van with WalkAbout on my right hand side. I kept out of he bus lane, and when the bus lane finished I turned left.

I’ve got a £35 fine for turning left (not driving in the bus lane). I been turning left there for years with no problems. Does anyone know if there’s a new no left turn sign?

Once I turned left I drove up the lane to the bollard that’s got to be lowered for me to enter.

Is it worth fighting or just paying up?

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Just pay up I turned by the pow after arguing I can't with the Mrs following week bang photo evidence and fine

On a side note. What a farce and waste of money duplicating Rd signs in Welsh.
Tourist gimmick!

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Originally Posted by Michael Morris

There is. He was turning into Mill Lane.

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Yep, you're agreeing with me I think!

I did it as well. To be honest a genuine mistake, didn't see any sign. Does it really Warrent £35 fine? Wasn't speeding, no one in danger.
Just a money making machine.
*****.

The wankers stung me for 35 quid ,Dropped my partner off at tiger tiger grey friars rd.
Talking to my mate about city, wandered in bus lane.

Write and appeal explaining the situation. I believe everyone has one chance with their first offence.

Me and the Mrs have both been successful with our first appeal and hers was in exactly the same place as yours, mine was on Greyfriars Rd.

I also agree that the new road layout in both areas are a mess.

its just a money making scheme, a real shame we have to put up with it

I will be getting a letter and a fine from Swindon yesterday, popped out for lunch and popped into the outlets, turning into the car park ( so i thought ) I am 25 meters down the road and i spot a "bus only " sign, you really couldnt see it from the main road till you are on the road, then you have nowhere to go except straight ahead and down the road which is " bus only " its a joke

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Originally Posted by William Treseder

On a side note. What a farce and waste of money duplicating Rd signs in Welsh.
Tourist gimmick!

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Yes, remove the English, tourists will have to work it out for themselves then or buy a Welsh dictionary.

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Originally Posted by Arfur Europe

Write and appeal explaining the situation. I believe everyone has one chance with their first offence.

Me and the Mrs have both been successful with our first appeal and hers was in exactly the same place as yours, mine was on Greyfriars Rd.

I also agree that the new road layout in both areas are a mess.

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Cheers I have.I actually stopped as you enter the bus lane.I was looking to reserve back,however there was a taxi and bus behind me,
so i had no other option but to enter the bus lane

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Originally Posted by dandywarhol

The wankers stung me for 35 quid ,Dropped my partner off at tiger tiger grey friars rd.
Talking to my mate about city, wandered in bus lane.

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May be you should concentrate just a little bit more when you are driving. You are lucky it was only a bus lane that you "wandered" in to and not a pedestrian or a cyclist

I wasn't driving.I was on a rickshaw

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Originally Posted by dandywarhol

Cheers I have.I actually stopped as you enter the bus lane.I was looking to reserve back,however there was a taxi and bus behind me,
so i had no other option but to enter the bus lane

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I would add that it probably only works if you apppeal BEFORE paying the fine!! If you've paid, there's absolutely no system / staff in place to deal with appeals.

Like you, I tried to avoid my error as I couldn't see a way out of Greyfriars Road (at night, poor visibility and I was sure that the New Theatre end was for Buses / Taxis only). I went to take one turn out, but when I got closer it appeared to be one way so turned around and tried a different route out. I then realised that this was heading towards a Bus only route, so tried to pull over but a Taxi came right up behind me. In hindsight I should've just jammed on the anchors, let the Taxi guy overtake and then I could pull over, get out and see where the hell I could legally exit this mess, but I carried on as that would've been more dangerous and then realised I was into a bus lane.

Anyway, knowing all this, I explained it when I appealed after the letter arrived and they replied advising that as a first time offender, they'd waive the fine on this one occasion.

In effect, they had no care about the situation or what I'd put in my letter, moreso that it was simply a first offence tactic. I guess after realising what a mess they'd made of the road layout here and near Mill Lane. I say 'mess' as it must make them an absolute fortune.

I too got fined for driving through the bus lane outside the Hilton. I won.
I appealed on the grounds of inadequate signage given that the only sign telling you it's a bus lane is positioned after your only means of avoiding it ie by turning right onto the Megabus bus stop side road of Kingsway. (They still haven't improved the signage btw).
I know it's not the same location as the OP but it's always worth appealing.

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Originally Posted by The Bloop

I too got fined for driving through the bus lane outside the Hilton. I won.
I appealed on the grounds of inadequate signage given that the only sign telling you it's a bus lane is positioned after your only means of avoiding it ie by turning right onto the Megabus bus stop side road of Kingsway. (They still haven't improved the signage btw).
I know it's not the same location as the OP but it's always worth appealing.

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I think i will do the same, as the sign in my case was a fair bit down the road and by the time you look up, its too late

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Originally Posted by Harry Monk

Yes, remove the English, tourists will have to work it out for themselves then or buy a Welsh dictionary.

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So would 99% of Cardiffians!!

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Originally Posted by blue matt

its just a money making scheme, a real shame we have to put up with it

I will be getting a letter and a fine from Swindon yesterday, popped out for lunch and popped into the outlets, turning into the car park ( so i thought ) I am 25 meters down the road and i spot a "bus only " sign, you really couldnt see it from the main road till you are on the road, then you have nowhere to go except straight ahead and down the road which is " bus only " its a joke

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Similar thing happened to me in Oxford - I wasn't sure of the city, first time I spotted a "Buses only" sign it was too late for me to stop and turn (what with there being a bus up my exhaust pipe). £60 that cost me.

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Originally Posted by dandywarhol

I wasn't driving.I was on a rickshaw

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Well that should count as a taxi and they are allowed in bus lanes, you should appeal!

Never take shortcuts

Think I was lucky. I was dropping wifie off to catch the Megabus near the Hilton early one Saturday morning. She had been given directions by a friend which I dozily followed (it was about 06.00). I drove down Park Place towards the New Theatre as directed and went straight on at the lights. Thought it was a bit odd that there were no 'straight on' arrows on the road. Found myself in the bus lane travelling towards the New Theatre and could do nothing about it. This was about six weeks ago - and still not had a brown envelope. I checked afterwards and I can't see any cameras pointing at this lane. Phew!